Nintendo 3DS Gets A YouTube App

Nintendo’s 3DS just became the newest platform to support YouTube videos. A new YouTube application for the handheld gaming system just became available in North America and Europe, Slashgear reports.

The dual screens of the Nintendo 3DS offers a different style of control for viewers. The bottom screen displays search results, suggested videos and the play bar, while the top screen plays the videos. The bottom screen also allows users to search and navigate a video without actually closing the video. The L trigger and B buttons are used as back buttons while the R trigger and A button pause the video. The d-pad and circle pad is used for scrolling options.

YouTube is already available on numerous platforms including computers, smartphones, tablets and gaming consoles.

“3DS is very popular with the young group and YouTube is one of those must-have features,” industry analyst Billy Pidgeon told redOrbit. “Kids love YouTube, and this is a great way for them to access it. This is Nintendo’s biggest hardware platform right now, so it makes sense to have it on there.”

It was reported in November that Nintendo would soon offer a YouTube app in Europe and North America, Joystiq reported, saying the Nintendo Wii U would also get an update for its YouTube app.

The Nintendo 3DS user base continues to grow. In a second quarter earnings report for the fiscal year ending March 2014, Nintendo stated it had sold 11.43 million units in the US and 34.98 million units worldwide by September 2013.

The Japanese console and handheld game system manufacturer is under pressure to continue to innovate its systems. The company reported sluggish earnings in July for its previous quarter. In addition to offering a new YouTube app, Nintendo has pushed for a long list of games to be released for the holiday season as well as offering online deals on Black Friday and throughout the holiday season.

Additional efforts from Nintendo to build its installed base on all systems includes a partnership with Southwest Airlines for which the airline will build gaming lounges in several major airports such as Dallas, Chicago, Denver, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and St. Louis. To signal the start of the partnership, the iconic Nintendo character Mario boarded the airplane on a flight between New Orleans and Dallas during the Thanksgiving week to give every passenger a free Wii U gaming system.

The YouTube app for the 3DS is available in the 3DS eShop in North America and Europe, Engadget reports. Other content apps for the Nintendo 3DS system include services such as Netflix and Hulu, which launched last month.

Nintendo announced the YouTube app at a Nintendo Direct press even. It also issued Nintendo Network ID (NNID) compatibility for the 3DS which is intended to facilitate cross-platform play.